I sacrificed a chicken to find records

FrankFrank 2,379 Posts
edited April 2008 in Strut Central
On Monday I went to see a Voodoo priest in a small village in the South West of Benin. We held a ceremony in the shrine of Vodun Agbo where we sacrificed a chicken and I had to drive a wooden pole into the ground by hammering it with a wooden club. Afterwards the priest consulted the Fa which worked like this:A Kola nut was split in four pieces and thrown onto a plate after asking a question to the Vodun. The Vodun then answered with certain different combinations of how the pieces of Kola nut came to rest. The result was so positive that all the elders that were present inside the shrine with us voiced their pleasant surprise in a loud murmur.I was left inside the shrine on my own to ask the Vodun for more detalied help.Outside, a group of men and women began to perform a dance for us.As a reminder, we left a Poly Rythmo 45 in the shrine and after a few shots of Sodabi (local moonshine distilled from fermented palm sap), we were on our way back down the river in a small unitrunk fishing boat. Just one day after the ceremony, I made my biggest single find of African 45s so far. Amongst others I found Fela's "beautiful dancer", Orlando Julius' "james brown ride on"/"psychedelic afro shop", the "paulina" 45 by Black Santiago and a whole bunch of rare Poly Rythmo 45s in great condition that I've only seen as scratched-up copies before.I'll be travelling around Benin for the rest of the month but brace yourself for one kick-ass mix once I get back home to Conakry!Oh yeah, and by the way: this time I'm being followed around by a documentary film maker...

  Comments


  • kalakala 3,362 Posts
    dude .......you rule!!!!!

  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    I was writing a reply but think this:

    dude .......you rule!!!!!

    sums it up perfectly.

    Also:

    I sacrificed a chicken to get records

    Digger's got to do what a digger's got to do.

    Can't wait to see the doc.

  • DuderonomyDuderonomy Haut de la Garenne 7,794 Posts
    I assume the documentary will have a soundtrack... released on triple vinyl, three volumes of, liner notes + photos etc..?

    Where do I place my order?

  • JimsterJimster Cruffiton.etsy.com 6,960 Posts
    I hear a human sacrifice gets you "Mardi Gras without the bells"....

  • kalakala 3,362 Posts
    yeah man

    and besides i am sure they happily ate the chicken

    being a vegetarian/vegan i feel bad for the chicken ,but not in a third world context and especially since you found the ill afro-funk 45s

  • FrankFrank 2,379 Posts
    yeah man

    and besides i am sure they happily ate the chicken

    being a vegetarian/vegan i feel bad for the chicken ,but not in a third world context and especially since you found the ill afro-funk 45s

    Even being a helpless carnivore myself, I do understand and apreciate the concept of being a vegetarian in the first world where growth hormones, mass stables and sewage flooding of rivers and lakes are a major problem. Around here however, it would not make any sense to not eat meat. You would also risk to seriously offend your hosts.

    I actually had to promise to be back if the Vodun works for me and I promised to bring a cow along with plenty of Sodabi, palm oil and a chunk of money...

  • KineticKinetic 3,739 Posts
    Geeze... when I read the title of this thread I was thinking along the lines of "I was gonna eat some chicken, but instead I went digging."

    Then I saw Frank was the author... and I suddenly realised what I was likely to be in for.

  • nzshadownzshadow 5,526 Posts


    Oh yeah, and by the way: this time I'm being followed around by a documentary film maker...



  • SnagglepusSnagglepus 1,756 Posts


    Oh yeah, and by the way: this time I'm being followed around by a documentary film maker...

    Immediately upon reading the thread title and noticing its author, I'm thinking "man ... this is gonna be another one for the book I really hope he eventually puts together". So I'm more than glad to see that this was filmed. A documentary would become an instant all-time classic.

    Though I do think an oversized book of images and stories from your travels/adventures would get a permanent home on many a coffee table.

  • FlomotionFlomotion 2,391 Posts

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    There are many strutters I haven't met yet, that I hope one day to meet. Sween, pmrc, Spanky...

    But none more than Frank.

  • CosmoCosmo 9,768 Posts
    Frank your shit continues to amaze me, dude you are DUDE beyond DUDE you know that right? Hahah MY MAN... straight up nobody is Frickin' with you. When are you coming back over to NY?

  • djdazedjdaze 3,099 Posts
    coolest story to hit the strut in a long time...good shit man. Let us know how it works out with the cow and all

  • DJFerrariDJFerrari 2,411 Posts

    Ah-may-zing story again, by the way. This makes soulstrut a richer place.

    Seriously

  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    great stories like these really put into perspective the bullisht little dudeness that has been infecting the board as of late. (and yes I freely admit my own participation in said behavior ).

  • DongerDonger 854 Posts
    Out of curiosity, what will it cost you to bring a cow to the gentlemen? What does a cow retail for in Benin these days?

    I'd also be frightened of what would happen if you didn't bring the cow!

  • FrankFrank 2,379 Posts
    Out of curiosity, what will it cost you to bring a cow to the gentlemen? What does a cow retail for in Benin these days?

    Depending on it's size and where you buy it, a cow goes for $80 to $200.
    I hope I'll be able to find one not too far away from the village but since the last stretch of the way only leads across a river, it'll probably be a bit adventurous... just to be on the safe side, I promised to be back next year since I'm not sure if we'll have the time to go back there on this trip nor if I'll be able to leave for another one before our move to NYC.
    I'm definitely going to travel back to Benin even from the US. It's just such an amazing place.

  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    It's just such an amazing place.

    I've heard this.

  • FrankFrank 2,379 Posts
    When are you coming back over to NY?

    the first week of July if everything goes well...
    we're having trouble with Bruessels Air, they say they can't take more than two dogs on one plane and we have three... maybe my wife and I will have to travel individually... it'll definitely be late in June or early in July though.

  • troublemantroubleman 1,928 Posts
    I'll have to make a pillgrimage to your afrofunk night (when it starts).

  • Big_ChanBig_Chan 5,088 Posts
    Frank,

    Your stories of life and travel in Africa are always entertaining and very interesting. As people have already mentioned, please do a huge coffe table book, comps and a documentary DVD! I am sure everyone on the board will support and buy everything. Mabe we can meet up for drinks one night in NYC later in the year and you can tell me some travel stories.

  • Another amazing story Frank!

    and this


    Orlando Julius' "james brown ride on"/"psychedelic afro shop",


    sounds like a contender for the greatest rackord of all time.

  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    Another amazing story Frank!

    and this


    Orlando Julius' "james brown ride on"/"psychedelic afro shop",


    sounds like a contender for the greatest rackord of all time.

    no shit, right? I only have that Orlando Julius "super Afro soul" reish that afrostrut put out about 8 years ago, and it is awesome...but I dot think anything on it could live up to titles like that...

  • djkingottodjkingotto 1,704 Posts
    frank, you easily have the most interesting threads on this board.
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